<ARTICLE>                     5
                        
                    
<MULTIPLIER>                                      1,000
                                  
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1997

<PERIOD-END>                                   SEP-30-1997

<CASH>                                            2,100
<SECURITIES>                                      4,502
<RECEIVABLES>                                    24,161
<ALLOWANCES>                                      2,013
<INVENTORY>                                           0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 31,704
<PP&E>                                            3,369
<DEPRECIATION>                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                   95,888
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            22,759
<BONDS>                                          35,588
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                           0
<COMMON>                                             72
<OTHER-SE>                                       35,046
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                     95,888
<SALES>                                         118,052
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                118,052
<CGS>                                            81,799
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                   104,424
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                2,010
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  13,223
<INCOME-TAX>                                      5,352
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                               7,871
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                      7,871
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      1.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      1.06